New York Auto Show: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec Concept

Mercedes-Benz has long been making efficient exhaust treatment systems. This is the reason why when talking future diesel engine technology, BlueTEC will always enter the conversation. The engines of BlueTEC vehicles can be considered as one of the world’s cleanest as they are able to meet even the strictest of standards in global emissions.

The E 250 BlueTEC is Mercedes-Benz’s way of showing that it is possible to combine a four-cylinder engine that has optimized fuel consumption with the BlueTEC technology found in this E-Class.

This E 250 BlueTEC was exclusively manufactured for the North American market. When the engine is paired with the seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, the E 250 results in a fuel economy rating based on U.S. FE standards of 28 mpg for city traffic and a rating of 39 mpg for the highway.

It is able to meet the most rigid of emissions standard like the Bin 5 in the U.S. The E 250 can also fulfil the guidelines set by the EU6 legislation though this is not expected to be implemented by September 1, 2014. It was important that the E 250 be able to satisfy the legal requirements when it came to on-board diagnostics.

One of these was to lower the internal raw emissions being produced by the engine and therefore the new four-cylinder 2.2-liter CDI engine had to be redeveloped. The electronic engine control system is so sensitive that it can react immediately to a wide range of operating conditions in order to optimize the engine’s combustion process.

This time the power unit hardware integrates a number of features that are part of the series production engines like the 2-stage turbocharger, fourth-generation piezo common-rail direct injection, exhaust gas recirculation, and the four-valve technology.

The exhaust gas treatment system in particular contains just an oxidation catalytic converter that has been fixed near the engine. It also comes with a diesel particulate filter placed in the rear bulkhead leading to a reduction in its regeneration time.

There are two SCR catalytic converters at the center of the BlueTEC. The SCR stands for Selective Catalytic Reduction and these converters also have what is known as an "AdBlue" injector located upstream. This injector is made of an aqueous urea solution that while synthetic, can convert nitrogen oxide to a harmless nitrogen gas inside the converters.

In order to monitor and diagnose this rather hig-tech gas treatment process, the E 250 makes use of a number of sensors like temperature sensors, differential pressure sensor, and Lambda probe plus NOx. To be able to store this "AdBlue" solution, the E 250 contains a 25-liter tank that has both temperature and pressure sensors, membrane pump and valve.

There is even an electrical heating unit that ensures the "AdBlue" 33% urea solution does not freeze even when the vehicle experiences very low temperatures. In addition, the 25-liter tank is enough to make sure that the full service and the refill can be maintained on a regular basis.

The tank has been placed on the spare wheel well in its boot. As such, with the 4-cylinder engine combined with its SCR technology, the E 250 does not only offer excellent fuel economy and lower emissions, it also delivers extraordinary performance and a fun factor.

As what can be expected from any Mercedes-Benz vehicle, the powertrain offers smooth characteristics owing to two Lanchester balancing shafts. The BlueTEC technology is expected to be part of the series production model to be released in Europe by the autumn of 2009 through the E 350 BlueTEC.

The E 350 however uses a V6 diesel engine that delivers 155kW or 211 hp of power and maximum torque of 540 Nm. With this, Mercedes-Benz customers should expect a series production vehicle that conforms with EU6 emission standards even if it has yet to be implemented in September 2014.

Press Release

Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec Concept

BlueTEC is the keyword for the future of diesel engine technology. Thanks to the highly effective exhaust treatment system developed by Mercedes-Benz, BlueTEC vehicles fulfil the strictest global emissions standards to make them the cleanest diesels in the world. With the E 250 BlueTEC concept, which was created specifically for the North American market, Mercedes-Benz is now demonstrating how BlueTEC technology in the E-Class can be combined with a four-cylinder engine with optimised fuel consumption. When fitted to the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, the E 250 BlueTEC boasts fuel economy of 28 mpg U.S. in city traffic and 39 mpg U.S.on the motorway (U.S. FE standards). The E 250 BlueTEC concept fulfils the strictest emissions standards, including Bin 5 in the U.S., and would even meet the considerably toughened limits laid down in EU6 legislation not due for implementation until 1 September 2014.

For the E 250 BlueTEC, the modern 2.2 litre four-cylinder CDI engine underwent a detailed redevelopment program in order to reduce further the internal raw emissions generated by the engine and to fulfil the legislative requirements for on-board diagnostics (OBD), as well as other factors. The power unit hardware incorporates features from the series production engines, such as four-valve technology, fourth-generation common-rail piezo direct injection, 2-stage turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation. A highly sensitive electronic engine control system reacts precisely across the full range of operating conditions to optimise the combustion process. The exhaust gas treatment system incorporates an oxidation catalytic converter mounted close to the engine, as well as a diesel particulate filter, which is located at the rear bulkhead in order to shorten its regeneration time.

At the heart of the BlueTEC system are two SCR catalytic converters (Selective Catalytic Reduction) with an "AdBlue" injector positioned upstream. "AdBlue" is a synthetic, aqueous urea solution that enables the nitrogen oxide (NOx) to be converted into harmless nitrogen gas in the SCR catalytic converters. The monitoring and diagnosis of the sophisticated exhaust gas treatment process is handled by several sensors, including a differential pressure sensor, a Lambda probe plus NOx and temperature sensors. For on-board storage of the "AdBlue" solution, the E 250 BlueTEC has a 25 litre tank equipped with a membrane pump, valve, pressure and temperature sensors and an electrical heating unit, which prevents the 33-percent urea solution from freezing at extremely low temperatures. The tank volume is sufficient for the duration of a full service interval and is refilled as part of the regular maintenance schedule.

The "AdBlue" tank is integrated into the spare wheel well in the boot. The combination of the powerful four-cylinder engine with SCR technology makes a convincing argument not only in terms of fuel economy and emissions, but also with impressive performance and the associated fun factor. Thanks to a pair of Lanchester balancing shafts, the concept vehicleâ€š powertrain boasts the exceptionally smooth characteristics expected of a Mercedes-Benz. In Europe, this BlueTEC technology is available in a series production model starting autumn 2009 with the E 350 BlueTEC. Under its bonnet is a V6 diesel engine with 155 kW/211 hp and 540 Nm of torque. This means that Mercedes-Benz will very soon offer a series production passenger vehicle that complies with the EU6 emissions standard not scheduled for implementation until September 2014.

Topics:
mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz e-class, concept, new york auto show

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